Retail light-based sensor-driven messaging systems

Abstract

Provided is an in-store dual-mode communication system in which shelves are disposed within a commercial space. A server is coupled to the Internet and/or a wide-area network and is configured to send and receive communications. Also provided are light-based messaging units that are located on and/or attached to such shelves, each: 1) having a light source, 2) receiving a communication from the server, and 3) in response to receipt of such communication, turning the light source on and off so as to broadcast a digital message that was included within such communication, as a binary-encoded digital signal corresponding to on/off states of the light source. A user device: (i) receives, via its light sensor, and then decodes the binary-encoded digital signal from a light-based messaging unit in order to obtain the digital message that corresponds to it; and also (ii) communicates with the server via its wireless interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A messaging system, comprising:
 a plurality of messaging units disposed at different locations within a retail store, each of said messaging units including at least one light source; 
 at least one messaging/modulation controller coupled to the light sources and configured to turn the light sources on and off so as to broadcast input digital messages; 
 a central server coupled to the at least one messaging/modulation controller and configured to selectively provide messages to said at least one messaging/modulation controller for broadcast by different ones of said messaging units; 
 sensors coupled to the central server and configured to: (a) obtain information about individuals within the retail store and (b) provide said information to the central server; and 
 a tracking system that tracks locations of a plurality of said individuals within the retail store and provides said location information to the central server, 
 wherein the central server selects messages to be broadcast by individual ones of the messaging units based on the information received from said sensors, and 
 wherein the tracking system tracks said locations of both (a) registered users whose user devices are in bidirectional communication within said messaging system and (b) other individuals who are not registered users. 
 
     
     
       2. A messaging system according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one receiver that receives transmissions from user devices within the retail store. 
     
     
       3. A messaging system according to  claim 2 , wherein the central server selects messages to be broadcast by individual ones of the messaging units also based on said received transmissions. 
     
     
       4. A messaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of a plurality of said sensors comprises a camera. 
     
     
       5. A messaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of a plurality of said sensors is provided on a user device carried by one of said individuals. 
     
     
       6. A messaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source in each of a plurality of said messaging units includes a light-emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
       7. A messaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the central server selects said messages to be broadcast by individual ones of the messaging units also based on manually input information regarding said individuals within the retail store. 
     
     
       8. A messaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein said sensors comprise plural different kinds of sensors. 
     
     
       9. A messaging system according to  claim 8 , wherein said sensors comprise a camera and at least one of a radio receiver and an infrared sensor. 
     
     
       10. A messaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the tracking system inputs data from a plurality of said sensors and then combines said data to generate tracking information. 
     
     
       11. A messaging system according to  claim 10 , wherein said data from said plurality of said sensors is combined to generate said tracking information using at least one of triangulation or Kalman filtering. 
     
     
       12. A messaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the central server selects messages to be broadcast by individual ones of the messaging units also based on said location information. 
     
     
       13. A messaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein the tracking system tracks the locations of said plurality of the individuals based on broadcasts from user devices carried by said plurality of the individuals. 
     
     
       14. A messaging system according to  claim 1 , wherein said locations are displayed on a map of at least a portion of said retail store, and wherein said registered users are designated in a first manner on said map and said other individuals are designated in a second manner on said map, said first manner being different than said second manner. 
     
     
       15. A messaging system according to  claim 14 , wherein said sensors comprise radio receivers. 
     
     
       16. A messaging system according to  claim 15 , wherein said radio receivers are used to identify the locations of said other individuals.